Extension leaf table



Dec. 114, 1943. c. c. HICKS EXTENSION LEAF TABLE iled Feb. 24, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec 1 5;, 1943. c. c. HICKS 2,336,685

EXTENSION LEAF TABLE Filed Feb. 24, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E T Q g 27% w w i a Z v a r i were!ll tglqt lai zz 4a 15011 BY I Patented Dec. 14, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EXTENSION LEAF TABLE Chester 0. Hicks, Indianapolis, Ind. Application February 24, 1942, Serial No. 432,119

Claims.

This invention relates to an extension sleeve table construction of the refectory type, and more particularly the hardware employed and the operation thereof.

The invention is particularly directed to that type of extension table having a disappearing extension leaf which may be caused to slide under the table top or within the structure with which it is associated when not in use, but when withdrawn for use will be supported in the plane of the table top or corresponding structure. In this connection, one feature of the invention resides in the sliding hinge connection between the table top and extension leaf, such as to permit a reversing and sliding movement of the leaf with respect to the table structure. Thus, while the hinge connection between the leaf and table top is maintained unbroken, the leaf may be overturned or reversed and caused to slide inwardly of the structure under the top thereof.

Another feature of the invention resides in the bracing mechanism which is adjustable to support and brace the leaf in precisely the extended plane of the table top and thereby avoid sagging or sloping, said supporting and bracing mechanism being so arranged as to readily fold and slide to permit of movement into retracted position.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

Fig. l is a central vertical section/through a portion of a refectory or extension leaf table showing the leaf in its extended position. Fig. 2 is the same as Fig. 1 showing the leaf in retracted position. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatical il1us tration of the first position of the leaf in retracting it. Fig. e is a View similar to Fig. 3 but showing the second position of the leaf. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the third position of the leaf just prior to its sliding movement into retracted position. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the underside of a portion of the leaf and associated portion of the table top. Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line l--? of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6, Fig. 9 is a plan view of the supporting hinge. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of the sliding brace support. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the hinge joint in the supporting brace.

In the drawings there is shown a section of an extension leaf table of the refectory type, embodying a body portion in the form of an apron I0 supported by the legs ll. Supported within the apron Hi there is a sub-top l2 for slidably supporting a retracted leaf. Spaced above the sub-top [2 by the spacing blocks l3 there is a top frame structure l4 mounting the table top I5. As shown herein, for purpose of illustration the table is of metal construction with Wooden frame pieces. Thus, the apron I0 and top 15 are illustrated as of sheet metal, whereas the sub-top, spacing block and top frame structure are of wood. However, it is not intended that the invention be limited to any particular material employed in the construction.

The sheet metal table top I5 is formed with a downwardly extending apron l6 embracing the top frame structure M formed on the edge of the table. To the underside of the top frame structure and adjacent the end apron l6 there is rigidly secured one wing of the hinge H the other wing of said hinge being formed with a sliding saddle I8, see Figs. 1 and 2 and 6. The extension leaf, generally designated as 19, is shown herein as formed of metal having a top surface I5a and a downwardly formed apron to provide the surrounding edge, and of the same depth and form as the apron [6 of the table top I5.

Transversely of the leaf l9 and secured to the underside thereof within the depth of the apron there is a hinge track 20 supported by a block 2|, see Figs. 1, 2 and 6. This permits .the leaf I9 to slide transversely of the axis of hinge I! in the manner hereinafter more particularly described. Preferably there are two such leaves l9 mounted on opposite sides of the table of the same size and structure, and embodying the same hardware for manipulation as herein described, and each of said leaves is preferably provided with two or more hinge tracks 20, there being only one herein illustrated.

For convenience the sides of the leaf l9 are indicated herein with the letters A and B, the letter A designating that side of the leaf farthest from the table, and the letter B indicating that side of the leaf which abuts the table when the leg is in extended position. As shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 the retracting movement of the leaf is as follows: I

Assuming the leaf to be in extended position, as shown in Figs. 1, 6 and 7, and by dotted lines in Fig. 3, when it is desired to retract the leaf, it is first swung downwardly in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 3) to the vertical full line position and about the hinge H. The leaf is then shoved upwardly, sliding upon the sliding saddle 18 of the hinge I! from the dotted to the full line position in the direction of the arrows until the leaf extends vertically and upwardly above the table top as shown in Fig. 4. From this position the leaf is swung downwardly to a horizontal plane immediately below the table top, as shown by full lines in Fig. 5, being swung from dotted line position, as indicated by the curved arrow. This brings the leaf into the plane of the space immediately under the table top, as provided by the spacing block l3. The leaf is then pushed into said space, see the straight arrow in Fig. 5, sliding along the saddle l8 of the hinge l1 until it lies in the position shown in Fig. 2.

For supporting and bracing the leaf when in its extended position, as shown in Fig. 1, there is provided a short brace 22 hinged at 23 to a plate 24 secured to the underside of the leaf adjaend A. The other end of the short arm 26 is pivoted to the sliding block 3| slidably mounted upon the brace 22. An adjustable stop member 32 is secured to the brace 22 adjacent its lower end for engagement by the block 3|.

When the leaf is in extended position it is supported by the brace 22 adjacent its hinged upper end and the brace comprising arms 26 and 21 adjacent its outer end, both of said braces in turn being supported by the shoulder 25 on the apron of the table. To permit of adjustment of the longer brace to avoid sagging and thereby maintain the leaf in alignment with the table top, the supporting position of the block 3| may be adjusted through manipulation of the stop memoer 32 which is slidably adjustable upon brace 22, as best illustrated in Fig. 10. Upon retracting the leaf, the hinge 28 is broken in the usual manner by a very slight upward pressure of the fingers near the pivoted end of the arm 21, whereupon the brace structure will automatically fold into the confines of the leaf as the leaf is swung down to lowered position as indicated in Fig. 3. In this folded position the entire brace structure 22, 26 and 21 is confined within the apron l6 of the leaf out of the way of its sliding movement and as shown in Fig. 2.

To return the leaf from nested position, see Fig. 2, to its extended position see Fig. 1, the reverse 2 .tion to that above described is followed. When the leaf is lifted up to its horizontally extended position the bracing structure automatically drops downwardly, whereupon the brace 22 engages with the shoulder 25 and the hinge 28 returns to its bracing position.

The invention claimed is:

1. An extension leaf construction for a refectory table or the like, including a supporting structure, a top member secured on said structure in spaced relation thereto, an extension leaf arranged when extended to project outwardly from and in alignment with said top member and a hinge member fixedly connected with said top member and hingedly and slidably connected with said leaf to permit said leaf to be hinged downwardly from said top member, slid upwardly until the remote edge of the leaf is above said top member and the leaf extends substantially at right angles thereto, swung downwardly about said hinge to position the leaf below the plane of and parallel with the top member and in reversed position, and slid inwardly under said top mem her to retracted position.

2. An extension leaf construction for a refectory table or the like, including a supporting structure, a top member secured on said structure, an extensionleaf therefor, a hinge member fixedly connected with said top member, a track extending transversely along the underside of said leaf and, track engaging means rigid with the hinge for slidably securing said hinge member and leaf together to permit transverse relative movement therebetween whereby the hinge connection between said leaf and top member may be shifted from one side of said leaf to the other, thereby permitting it to slide upon said hinge member between retracted position below said top member and extended position in alignment therewith.

3. An extension leaf construction for a refectory table or the like, including a supporting structure, a top member secured on said structure, an extension leaf therefor, a track secured to the underside of said leaf and extending transversely thereof, and a hinge having one wing thereof rigidly secured to the underside of said top member and the other wing thereof slidably secured to said track whereby the hinge connection between said leaf and top member may be shifted from one side of the leaf to the other for positioning the leaf in extended relation or in retracted position.

4. An extension leaf construction for a refectory table or the like, including a supporting structure, a top member secured on said structure in spaced relation thereto, an extension leaf arranged when extended to project outwardly from and in alignment with said top member,"

a hingle member fixedly connected with said top memoer and slidable with respect to said leaf to permit said leaf to tilt and slide to a reversed and retracted position thereupon lying under said top member, said leaf including a recess in its under race, and a collapsible brace wholly contained within said leaf recess when in retracted position and movable to bracing relation between said leaf and supporting structure when in extended position.

5. An extension leaf construction for a refectory table or the like, including a supporting structure, a top member secured on said structure in spaced relation thereto, an extension leaf when projecting outwardly in alignment with said top member forming an extension thereof, a track secured to the underside of said leaf and extending transversely thereof, a hinge having one wing thereof rigidly secured to the underside of said top member and the other wing thereof slidably secured to said track whereby the hinge connection between said leaf and top member may be shifted from one side of the leaf to the other for positioning the leaf in extended relation or in retracted position, said leaf including a recess in its under face, and a collapsible brace wholly contained within said leaf recess when in retracted position, said leaf including a recess in its under face, and movable to bracing relation between said leaf and supporting structure when in extended position.

6. An extension leaf construction for a refectory table or the like, including a supporting structure, a top member secured on said structure, an extension leaf therefor, means connected to said leaf and top member including hinged and sliding parts relatively movable to permit said leaf to be swung from extended to reverse position below said top member and shifted in said reversed position thereunder to retracted position, said leaf including a recess in its under face, and a collapsible brace wholly contained within said leaf recess when in retracted position and movable to bracing relation between said leaf and supporting structure when in extended position.

'7. An extension leaf construction for a refectory table or the like, including a supporting structure, a top membersecured on said structure, an extension leaf therefor forming a continuation of said top member when in extended position, means connected to said leaf and top member including hinged and sliding parts relatively movable to permit said leaf to be swung from extended to reverse position below said top member and shifted in said reversed position therev under to retracted position, said leaf including a recess in its under face, a collapsible brace wholly contained within said leaf recess when in retracted position and movable to bracing relation between said leaf and supporting structure when in extended position, and an adjustable member on said brace adjustable thereon to vary the bracing relation between said leaf and supporting structure to maintain the outer end of said leaf in direct alignment with said top memher.

8. An extension leaf construction for a refectory table or the like, including a supporting structure, a top member secured on said structure, an extension leaf therefor forming a continuation of said top member when in extended position, means connected to said leaf and top member including hinged and sliding parts relatively movable to permit said leaf to be swung from extended to reverse position below said top member and shifted in said reversed position thereunder to retracted position, a short brace pivotally connected to said leaf adjacent the edge thereof abutting the top member and having its opposite end releasably interlocked with said supporting structure, said leaf including a recess in its under face, and an extended brace hinged intermediate its ends and pivotally connected at its ends to said short brace and to the far edge of said leaf, the extended brace and the said short brace folding within the recess of the said leaf when in retracted position.

9. An extension leaf construction for a refectory table or the like, including a supporting structure, a top member secured on said structure in spaced relation thereto, an extension leaf adapted to extend outwardly in alignment with said top member when in extended position, the leaf including a recess in its under face, a hinge connection between said leaf and top member, a short brace pivotally connected to the underside of said leaf adjacent said hinge connection having its other end releasably engageable with said supporting structure when in bracing position, and an extended brace provided with a break hinge intermediate its ends having one end pivotally connected to the underside of said leaf at its far side and the other end pivotally and slidably connected with said short brace to permit said braces to support the leaf in extended position and fold within said leaf recess when in retracted position.

10. An extension leaf construction for a refectory tab-1e or the like, including a supporting structure, a top member secured on said structure in spaced relation thereto, an extension leaf adapted to extend outwardly in alignment with said top member when in extended position, the leaf including a recess in its under face, a hinge connection between said leaf and top member, a short brace pivotally connected to the underside of said leaf adjacent said hinge connection having its other end releasably engageable with said supporting structure when in bracing position, an extended brace provided with a break hinge intermediate its ends having one end pivotally connected to the underside of said leaf at its far side and the other end pivotally and slidably connected with said short brace to permit said braces to support the leaf in extended position and fold within said leaf recess when in retracted position, and an adjustable stop member mounted on said short brace engageable by said sliding and pivotal connection therewith of the extended brace movable to alter the position of said extended brace and thereby control the alignment of said leaf with said top member.

CHESTER C. HICKS. 

